Shoe stamping machine



May 19, 1959 W. F. JORDAN SHOE STAMPING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1957 United States Patent O ce SHOE STAMPING MACHINE William F. Jordan, Ailton, Mo., assigner to Independent Die & Supply Co., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 22, 1957, Serial No. 673,322

Claims. (Cl. 1019) This invention relates to shoe stamping machines and particularly to a machine for stamping trademarks and the like on the heel liner of a finished shoe.

It will be understood the manufacturers name and trademark are stamped on the inside of a shoe. Usually, the heel liners are so marked before being secured in the shoe but this practice is not always satisfactory. For example, a manufacturer may have a single Warehouse from which are shipped shoes to severalv different sales outlets or chains. In that event, it is desirable to have a simple machine which will permit the` proper trademark for the proper sales outlet to be stamped directly on the finished shoe just before it is shipped from the warehouse. Accordingly, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensive machine for marking the inner 'heel portion of a nished shoe. In addition, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine which is convenient and foolproof in operation.

While other features of the invention will be apparent in the detailed disclosure, briefly, the machinek comprises a supporting column having a lower ram and an upper stamping unit. A stamping die ismounted at the lower end of an arm, which is otherwise pivoted for swinging movement about a horizontal `axis from an outer inclined position to an inner position substantially in alignment with the ram. An overcentering device is provided to bias the arm in either its inner or outer positions, and a gauge is mounted on the arm for engagement with the back of the shoe, thereby centering the die before the ram is elevated. The die would be of the type having a heating element and a marking tape carrying gold or other ink. The ram is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder which is controlled by a foot treaclle, andthe ram head, which engages the bottom surface of the heel, is pivotally supported so as to insure uniform application of pressure. In the case of a low heeled shoe, the ram head may be relatively flat, but the head for stamping a high heeled shoe is provided with an opening for admitting the long heel and a cross bar extending beneath the shank adjacent the heel.

Other features of the invention Will be in part apparent from and in part pointed out in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial detailed view illustrating a modified version of a ram head more particularly adapted for high heeled shoes; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the ram head shown in Fi 2.

llthough various shoe stamping machines have been proposed and described in the art, they generally embody an upper stamping die which is Xed (at least in use), although there may be several such dies mounted on a turret head. The shoe is placed over a lower horn which is adapted to be elevated in order to apply pressure 2,887,041` Patented` May 19, 1959 during the stamping operation. In some instances, the horn is movable from a position beneath the die to a position outwardly of the die so as to facilitate placement of the shoe upon the horn. In other words, the shoe is placed on a horn and is then elevated against the iixed die. Such a machine is awkward to operate and tends to be rather bulky and expensive. In those cases where the ram head or horn is adapted for swinging movement, the heavy mass of the horn makes it difficult to move between the shoe stamping and shoe releasing positions, and there are complications in applying pressure to such a movable horn.

Referring nowto the drawings, there is shown a main vertical support in the form of a column 1, which could be mounted upon a bench or lloor stand (not shown).

A lower unit 3 is secured on the column 1 to support a:

pneumatic cylinder 5. The plunger 7 projects upwardly and carries a ram head 9, which is adapted. to engage the bottom surface of the shoe heel. `In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the ram head is` a at plate which is pivotally supported at 11 so that it may be tilted within limits in accordance with variations in shoes. `In other words, the limited tilting feature is advantageous in `assuring uniform pressure against the stamping die. Although it is not shown, it is contemplated that the: pneumatic unit 5 would be controlled by a foot treadle' or foot actuated valve.

At the upper portion of the column 1, there is a second cantilevered arm 13 which projects outwardly over the ram head 9 but which is vertically spaced above the ram head a substantial distance. An elongate arm 15 is pivotally secured about a horizontal axis 17 and depends therefrom. The arm is adapted to be movable between an inner position against a stop 19 and an outer position against a stop 21, as illustrated by the dotted lines. Also, a spring 22 or other overcentering device is provided so as to yieldably hold the arm in either of its inner or outer positions and to bias the arms into such positions upon movement beyond the dead centeiww position.

The stamping die generally designated 23 is mounted on the lower end of the arm 15 in a position such as to yapply a mark to the heel liner of a shoe. The stamping die 23` is of a conventional type and would include a heating unit (not shown) and a tape feeding device for vfeeding an inking tape beneath the die so that the heat` and pressure applied thereby would mark the heel liner with a proper design. In other words, the tape carries an ink generally of agold] or silver character. The tape feeder is diagrammatically` shown at. 25 to include an indexing lever 27, which is cooperable with an actuating member 29 xed to project from the column 1. The actual details of the indexing mechanism are not significant to this invention, since they are well known in the art. It is only necessary to note that the indexing lever 27 is actuated at 29 whenever the arm 15 is swung. In other words, the tape is stepped forwardlyr one position each time the main arm 15 is swung outwardly and inwardly.

In addition, the main arm 15 carries a gauge 31, which is adapted to engage the back heel portion 33 of a shoe. In operation, the arm 15 is initially in its outer position against stop 2l, as indicated by the dotted lines. Accordingly, the die 23 is clear of the ram head 9 so that a shoe may be easily lifted around the die. The shoe or arm is then pushed upwardly beyond the overcentering position, whereupon the spring 22 carries the arm inwardly against the stop 19. The gauge 31, in turn, moves the shoe inwardly in proper position with respect to the die so that the marking will be properly centered. Actually, the operator may pull the shoe outwardly to make sure that the gauge is contacting the heel of the shoe, but the out;`

ward pull is not sumcient to move the arm from its stop. As the shoe moves inwardly, the marking tape is indexed so as to provide a fresh section beneath the die.

The pneumatic power unit is then operated, as by means of a foot treadle to advance the ram head, which would otherwise be in ya retracted position of the dotted lines. In other words, the ram head is initially retracted to permit the shoe to move inwardly. The control for the pneumatic unit is such as to advance the ram head when jactuated and to retract the ram head when the treadle is released. Accordingly, the ram head pushes the shoe and heel liner against the die, which is heated so as to apply the mark.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the ram head 9 is a flat plate, which is suitable for most low heeled shoes. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown an alternative ram head 109, more particularly suited to high heeled shoes. In this case, the ram head includes a plate 111 which is formed with an opening or slot 113 generally in the outline of the heel, where it joins the upper of the shoe. This opening may be lined with soft material 11S so as not to scratch or injure the shoe. In addition, a cross bar 117 is secured across the heel opening so as to contact the shank or sole portion of the shoe near the heel. Otherwise, the ram head includes a pair of depending arms 119 cooperable with the pivotalaxis 121 on the plunger 7.

, From the foregoing description, it is apparent that those skilled in the art Will understand the structure, function and mode of operation of the invention herein disclosed, and appreciate the advantages thereof. Although several embodiments `have been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but the drawings and description thereofare to be understood as being merely illustrative. It is realized that many modifications and variations will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a shoe stamping machine of the character disclosed, the improvement comprising a lower ram having a ram head and means for moving the ram head vertically between advanced and retracted positions, an upper stamping assembly including an elongate arm pivotally mounted on a xed axis for swinging movement from an outer position to an inner position over the ram head, a stamping die mounted on the lower end of said arm for cooperation with the heel liner of a shoe, stop means cooperable with said arm for determining said inner and outer positions, and overcentering means for resiliently biasing the arm into either its inner or outer positions.

2. In a shoe stamping machine of the character disclosed, the improvement comprising a lower ram having a ram head and means for moving the ram head vertically between advanced and retracted positions, an upper stamping assembly including an elongate arm pivotally mounted on a iixed axis for swinging movement from an outer position to au inner position over the ram head, and a stamping die mounted on the lower end of said arm for cooperation with the heelliner of a shoe, said ram head being formed with an opening for receiving the long heel of a high heeled shoe.

3. In a shoe stamping machine of the character disclosed, the improvement comprising a lower ram having a ram head and means for moving the ram head vertically between advanced and retracted positions, an upper stamping assembly including an elongate arm pivotally mounted on a fixed axis for swinging movement from an outer position to an inner position over the ram head, and a stamping die mounted on the lower end of said arm for cooperation with the sheel liner of a shoe, said die further including a tape indexing device and indexing means adapted for actuation upon movement of said arm, thereby to index the tape whenever the arm is swung into its inner position.

4. In a shoe stamping machine of the character disclosed, the improvement comprising a lower ram having a ram head and means for moving the ram head vertically between advanced and retracted positions, an upper stamping assembly including an elongate arm pivotally mounted on a lixed axis for swinging movement from an outer position to an inner position over the ram head, a stamping die mounted on the lower end of said arm for cooperation with the heel liner of a shoe, and a gauge mounted at the lower end of said arm for engagement with the back heel portion of a shoe.

5. In a shoe stamping machine of the character disclosed, the improvement comprising a vertical supporting column with upper and lower supports, a vertically-movable ram having a ram head and an aligned lower pneumatic unit therefor mounted on the lower support, an

arm depending from the upper support and pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement from an inner posi tion substantially aligned with the ram and pneumatic unit to an outer position clear of the ram, and a stamping die carried at the lower end of the pivoted arm, said stamping die being of such shape as to t in the open heel portion of a shoe, thereby to stamp indicia upon the inner heel surface of the shoe.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Keuper Jan. 22, 1952 

